Improvement in hay-presses



UNIT D STATES PATENT FFIcE.

\ MATTHEWV FLETCHER, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAY-PRESSESQ Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 44,4 13, dated September 27, 1864.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IVIATTHEW FLETCHER, of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful improvement in presses, particularly adapted to putting up the divided forage ration, for which I Obtained Letters Patent of the United States No. 40,922, hearing date December 15, 1863, and I do hereby declare that a toggle-press (geared or not) with a revolv- I ing table capable of receiving a series of two or more packing-boxes for the divided forage-ration, and so arranged that one of the boxes can be filled, while at the same time another one of the series can be pressed.

I make two standards, A A, of a strength sufficient to sustain all the pressure required and high enough to receive the packing-boxes B, the stationary platform E, the followerarms F, the toggle-joint, (composed of the straps G and H,) and the lever K with its brace L. s I

The standards A may be secured in the ground, or inserted into the cross-brace 0,

having a base, D, above it to support the stationary table or platform E. Blocks a may be placed between the cross-brace O and the base D,to resist the pressure of the toggle-joint and lever and render the platform E firm.

On the platform E, I place a revolving table, 0, which sustains the packing-boxes B, and the standards A must be far enough apart at the bottom to permit the boxes and table to rotate between them, so as to bring each box alternately into position to receive the follower-plate J, to compress the package in the boxes.

In the drawings but two boxes are shown on the table; but, of course, the number may be multiplied to adapt the press to a number of hands. The boxes are made with grooves to receive the strings to secure the bale, and with side doors, d, which are closed while the ration is receiving pressure, and opened to tie the strings and release the bale when pressed.

The standards A should incline toward each other at top (and be provided with guides e for the follower Fand toggle-bar G) until near enough to receive the lever K, which may be constructed of a single piece; or two pieces may be used, as shown in the drawings.

The lever K may be operated by a geared Windlass suitably framed and worked from a pinion on the shaft N, gearing into a spurwheel, Q, 011 the Windlass-shaft M.

The shaft N may be worked by hand with a crank-arm, R, or by a belt driven by power, and running on the pulleys S S, the latter being a loose pulley to receive the belt whenthe press is not in motion; and, under either arrangement, a strap or chain, T, must connect the outer end of the lever K with the windlass M, and the weight of the lever may be balanced by a weight, 1, attached to one end of a cord, 2, passing over a guide-pulley, 3, the other end of the cord being attached to the lever.

The operation of the press is as follows: One of the boxes B is packed with the ration by hand, the strings with which to tie it having first been placed in the grooves and the door (I closed and fastened. The lever K is now raised until the platen J is raised above the top of the boxes, and the table 0 is rotated until the filled box is in position to receive truly the follower-plate J. The Windlass M is now turned and draws the lever K down by the belt T, which depresses the follower-arms F through the members of the toggle G 11 L until the members F, G, and H are perpendicular, or nearly so, when the door dis opened and the strings are tied around the now closelypacked bale or ration; and when the lever is again raised to permit the rotation of the table 0 the packed bale may be withdrawn, and so on in rapid succession.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of a toggle-press with a revolving table sustaining a series of packingboxes, arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub= scribed my name.

MATTHEW FLETCHER.

I Witnesses:

WM. D. BALDWIN, J SNO'WDEN BELL. 

